Dry cell battery



April 15,1941- I A. E. sPlci-:R 2,238,376

DRY CELL BATTERY Filed Nov. 13, 1959 l INVENT OR. Arthur E.5Pcer.

l f lA TTORN Patented Apr. 15, 1941 U N ITE D STAT j APAT EN Tv `C) FF I CE l DRY CELL BA'rTEnY Arthur E. Spicer, Pasadena, Calif.- Application Novemberis, 1939, serial No. 304,011@ e `4 Claires. (ci. 13s-fior) This invention relates to'dry cell batteries.

The general object of the invention is -to pro- I a novel means for venting a dry cell battery.

An additional object is to provide a novel means for holding' partition members in a dry cell in place.

Other objects and the advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. l is a top plan view of my improved dry cell battery. Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a top planview of the battery partly assembled;

Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 5-5 of Fig, 4;

Fig. 6 is a section taken on line` 6-6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. '1 is a section taken on line 1-1 of Fig. 5;

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on line 8--8 of Fig. 1;--and Fig. 9 is a perspective view 'of the partition device.

Referring to the drawing by reference charac- As shown the battery I8 includes a cylindrical t zinc casing I2 which is open at the top and closed at the lower end by anlintegral bottom I3. The zinc casing I2 is preferably :encased in a heavy pressed paper or cardboard shell I4. Within the casing I2 andengaging the bottom I3 thereof I provide a disk I5 made of vinsulation material such as heavy pressed paper or cardboard which has a central aperture I6 therein.

Within the casing abovethe disc I5 I provide a partition device indicated at I1 which is formed ofa plurality of units I8 shown as four innumber. Each of the units comprises a strip of zinc bent to form vertical body portions I8 at right angles to each other. The edges of the portions I9 include'inwardly curved portions 20.

At the lower end each of the body portions I9 adjacent their juncture includes a depending lug 2|. At the lower end each of the curved portions v 20 is beveled as at 22. At the upper end adjacent the curved portions 20 each of the body portions I0 includes an upwardly extending lug 23 and adjacent the outer edge each of the curved portions 20 includes an upwardly extending iinger 24.

Opening through the upper edge thereof each of the body portions I3 adjacent their juncture has an aperture 25 therein. The apertures 25 extend downwardly a predetermined distance.` Furthermore intermediate the bottom edge and the bottom of the apertures 25 each of the body portions I3 has an elongated aperture 26 therein. Each'of the curved portions 20 at the upper edge thereof hasa notch 24 therein.

The four units I8 are positioned in the casing I2 in a back to back relation as clearly shown in Fig. 4 with the outer edges of curved portions 20 thereof firmly. engaging the inner surface of the casing to form arcuate passageways 21 while the body portions I3 together with the casing wall form chambers 28. When the partition device I1 is thus positioned in the casing the lower lugs 2I thereof are positioned in the central aperture I6 of the washer I5. Furthermore the beveled lower edges 22 of the curved portions 20 provide a communicating passageway 29 between the passageways 21 and the chambers 28 (see Figs. 5 and 8) .v

Positioned on the disc I5 within each of the chambers 28 I provide a depolarizing bobbin 30. Each bobbin includes a central carbon rod 3|.

After the bobbins 30 are positioned in chambers 28 the remaining space in the chambers is filled with a suitable electrolyte material 32 to a level with the bottom of the apertures 25 of the partition device I1. The electrolyte 32 communicates through the apertures26 of the device I1 but is placed in the chambers 28. and is of such a character that it hardens quickly and does not block the passageways 28.

A disc 33 of insulation materialsuch as pressed paper or cardboard is positioned in the casing I2 over the end of the partition device I1. As clearly shown-in Fig. 6 the disc 33 has slots 3| therein in which the vupper lugs 23 of the partition device I1 are positioned and edge slots 35 through which the fingers 2l extend. The lugs 23 are of such a length that they do not extend above the disc 33. The disc 33 further includes an aperture 36 through which the carbon rods 3I extend and which are preferably of a. greater diameter than the carbon rods.

Positioned in the casing I2 on the disc 33 I provide a second disc 31 made of an insulation material such as pressed paper or cardboard. As clearly shown in Fig. 3 the disc 31 like the disc 33 has edge slots 33 therein through which the fingers 24 of the partition device I1 projects a predetermined distance and also has apertures 39 therein in which the carbon rods 3l are positioned.

Positioned within the casing I2 on' the disc 31 I provide a cap disc 40 which is made oi' more or less rigid insulating material such as Bakenger portion 44 for individually engaging the' terminals 4| and a plurality of resilientcontact lingers 45 which when one engages one o'f theI terminals 4I each engage one of the terminals 4I.

The cap disc 40' like the discs 33 and 31 has edge slots 46 therein through which the fingers 24 of the partition device extend to a predeterf mined distance above the cap disc. (See Fig. 8.) After the cap disc 40 is placed lin position in the casing I2 the upper edges of the casing I 2 are turned inward over the top of the fingers 24 and then downward into tight engagement with the cap disc 40 as indicated at 46 in Fig. 8 thereby firmly holding the assembled members in the casing together.

The upper end of the outer shell I4 is turned over the top of the turned overv edge 46 of the casing I2 and then turned downward into engagement with the cap disc 40 as indicated at 41 in Fig. 8.

When the battery IIl is assembled it includes a chamber 48 between the top of the electrolyte 32 and the bottom of the disc 33 and the chamber extends over the top of the bobbins. 'I'he chamber 48 is in communication with the passageways 21 through the notches 24' of the partition device II, thus gases released in the lower portion of the battery during operation may expand into the' chamber 48.

From the foregoing descriptionit will be apparent that I have invented a novel dry cell battery which is highly eiilcient for the intended purpose.

Having thus described my invention I claim:

1. In a dry battery, a hollow elongated electroactive metal casing including an open top and having a plurality of longitudinal partitions therein forming compartments, a positive pole member in each compartment and an electrolyte about each pole. a disk in the open end of said casing, said partitions including portions engaging said disk. a second disk arranged above said tlrst disk; contact means on said second disk engaging said pole members, and a shell about the casing, said shell having the upper end thereof turned inwardly and contacting said second disk.

2. In a dry cell battery, a metal casing, a plurality of metal partition members in said casing, each of said members including two portions arranged at right angles, said members abutting to form a plurality oi chambers, said partition members including flanges adjacent the sides of said casing to form gas passageways, a depolarizing bobbin in each of said chambers and extending to within a predetermined level below the tops of said bobbins, said partition member adjacent the lower end thereof including means to aiiord communication between said passageways and said chambers and a closure member for said casing spaced above said electrolyte.

3. In a dry cell battery, a metal casing, a plurality of metal partition members in said casing, each of said -members including two portions arranged at right angles, said members abutting to form a.;,plurality of chambers, said partition members including flanges adjacent the sides of said casing to form gas passageways, a depolarizing bobbin in each of said chambers and extending to within a predetermined level below the tops of said bobbins, a closure member for said casing spaced above the electrolyte to form an upper chamber in said casing above said electrolyte, said partition member including a means to aording communication between said pasasgeways and said upper chamber.

4.'In a dry cell battery, a metal casing, a plurality of metal partition members in said casing, each of said members including two portions arranged at right angles, said members abutting to form a plurality oi' chambers,;said partition members including flanges adjacent the sides of said casing to form gas passageways, a depolarizing bobbin in each ot said chambers and extending to within a predetermined level below the tops of said bobbins, said partition member adjacent the lower end thereof including means to afford communication between said passageways and said chambers, a closure member for said casing spaced a predetermined distance above said electrolyte to form an upper chamber in said casing above said electrolyte, said partition member including means to affording communication between said passageways and said upper chamber.

ARTHUR E. SPICER. 

